I heard someone on the news talking about the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Then I realized that 10 years ago today, I was on a plane on my way to China. Wow! 10 years! Is it possible for 10 years to seem like the blink of an eye & also feel like 2 lifetimes all at the same time?? I hope so, because that's where I am!
Ten years ago right now, I was flying for the first time in my life! I remember how the pilot on one flight said we'd made good time & arrived early because of Katrina (tailwinds or something). I remember that on the last leg of the journey - the flight from Tokyo to Guangzhou - I started feeling really sick. I mean, the smells of the food we'd been served made me nauseous. I couldn't hardly make myself eat the food, which left me hungry. Throw in some turbulence and exhaustion...and I was done! Seriously, I was done. On the last flight, I had it out with God. I told Him, in no uncertain terms, that the moment we landed & I got my luggage, I was putting a return flight on my credit card and staying at the airport until I flew home. There was no way I could do this...I am not adventurous enough to eat foods that the smells make me sick. I could not live a year where I couldn't understand the language (I already couldn't understand the flight attendants). Others on my team had a shared history, so not only was I feeling bad, but I was already the odd-man out...and we hadn't even landed yet. So I waited until the light changed signaling I could go to the restroom, walked back there, threw up and then bawled my eyes out and threw up again.
The more I told God I was going back home, the less nauseous I felt. I figured that meant I had God's approval & it was His peace. I thought He must have been testing my faith like He did with Abraham...just seeing if I was truly willing to make the sacrifice He asked, then at the last minute He was saying He wouldn't hold me to it. As I walked back up the aisle and took my seat, I could see beautiful city lights. The pilot began to speak (not in English)...the only word I understood was "Guangzhou" ...the city I was to live in. I looked out the window at the lights again and heard God, in His still, small voice, say, "This is why you're here. Take a good look. There are MILLIONS living in this city. They don't know Me. Some have never even heard of My Name. And they WILL spend eternity in Hell when they die if they don't know Me. You have to tell them about Me." Then He said "Yes, this is going to be a hard year. Yes, you're going to feel left out at times. Yes, there will be times you will cry out to Me fearing I've forsaken you. That's because you're still living on Earth. This is life, there are seasons. Yes, this year will be more intense because you're away from all you know and all that is familiar. But know this, the fire is where purification takes place. It will be hard, you will want to quit, but I am with you. My Word's still true - I will NEVER leave or forsake you. And I love you! I want you to share My love with others this year just as you do at home, but know that I am drawing you even closer to Me... I am jealous for your heart and I will take full advantage of the fact that you're physically away from all you know & love to show you My love, to grow you in Me, to become your best friend, to become the 1st One you turn to. Yes, this year will be hard, but I promise you will be blessed as well. And, I love you and will never leave you! Do you trust Me?" Well, He'd never not kept His Word to me before, so I had to trust Him.
So, when the plane landed, we got our 3000 pounds of luggage - or maybe it was 2-70 lb suitcases & 2 carry-ons :), met teammates I'd only met online prior to that night and got on a bus that took us to our apartment. It was around midnight, I was starved, exhausted and still an emotional wreck. I remember a couple of us going to the C-store across the street - I got Pringles & a Coke Light. Ahh, a little comfort. :) I remember calling Mom to let her know we'd landed & "yes, I promise I'm fine". Yeah, it was a lie you tell your Momma when you're on the other side of the world so she doesn't freak out. I think I cried myself to sleep while feeling extremely claustrophobic in the bottom bunk and more emotional than I'd felt in a long time. lol
No, the year was not easy. But, I did fall even more in love with Jesus than I thought possible. And God continued to keep His Word - He never left me. Every tear, every sniffle, every doubt, every giggle, every "arrgghhh" moment, He was right there with me. And though it wasn't easy, I am forever thankful that I followed when I heard His voice.
